Have you read This Boy by Alan Johnson?

[HappydaysArehere]

Who else has read it? Anyone else recognise the places and events? I couldn't put it down. It is a wonderful biography, told with humour and self deprecation. It takes me back into my childhood and is a historical and social document. However, it is primarily a story of the courage of two women who sustained a young boy and surely gave him the building blocks upon which he built an amazing career. I wrote a review but couldn't resist a new thread.

I've been meaning too, I'm off sick until September so I'll take your advice.

Hope you enjoy it.

Yes, I thought it was a wonderful moving book especially the story of his mother and sister. I was brought up in North Kensington in the 1960s and extreme poverty and poor housing were still in evidence then.

I read an excellent review of it and it's been on my To Read list for a while. Glad others have found it to be a great read.

I am very far away from him politically but have always liked his approach and mean to read this, too. I remember hearing him on Desert Island Disks. He comes across as a genuine human being with the most extraordinary story to tell.

I've read it, and I thought it was wonderful. Such a moving read.

I thought meh. Got interesting at the end